Components of the Naturalization Test

The following charts provide the content for the civics and English portions of the naturalization test. During your naturalization interview,a USCIS Officer will ask you questions about your application and background. You will also take an English and civics test unless youqualify for an exemption or waiver. The English test has three components: reading, writing, and speaking. The civics test covers importantU.S. history and government topics. The following charts outline the content for the English and civics portions of the naturalization test.

Civics Test*If you are 65 or older and have been a permanent resident of the United States for 20 or more years, you may study only the questions that have been marked with An applicant will be asked up to an asterisk. 10 questions from the list below. Applicants must answer correctly six of the 10 questions to pass the civics test.

American Government Integrated Civics American History

A: Principles of American Democracy A: Geography A: Colonial Period and Independence • What is the supreme law of the land? • Name one of the two longest rivers in the • What is one reason colonists came • What does the Constitution do? United States. to America? • The idea of self-government is in the first • What ocean is on the West Coast • Who lived in America before the three words of the Constitution. What are of the United States? Europeans arrived? these words? • What ocean is on the East Coast • What group of people was taken • What is an amendment? of the United States? to America and sold as slaves? • What do we call the first ten amendments • Name one U.S. territory. • Why did the colonists fight the British? to the Constitution? • Name one state that borders Canada. • Who wrote the Declaration of Independence? • What is one right or freedom from • Name one state that borders Mexico. • When was the Declaration of Independence the First Amendment?* • What is the capital of the United States?* adopted? • How many amendments does • Where is the Statue of Liberty?* • There were 13 original states. Name three. the Constitution have? • What happened at the Constitutional • What did the Declaration of Independence do? B: Symbols Convention? • What are two rights in the Declaration • Why does the flag have 13 stripes? • When was the Constitution written? of Independence? • The Federalist Papers supported the passage • Why does the flag have 50 stars?* • What is freedom of religion? of the U.S. Constitution. Name one of the • What is the name of the national anthem? • What is the economic system writers. in the United States?* • What is one thing Benjamin Franklin C: Holidays is famous for? • What is the “rule of law”? • When do we celebrate Independence Day?* • Who is the "Father of Our Country"? • Name two national U.S. holidays. • Who was the first President?* B: System of Government • Name one branch or part of the government.* • What stops one branch of government B: 1800s from becoming too powerful? • What territory did the United States buy from • Who is the Chief Justice of the United States now? • Who is in charge of the executive branch? France in 1803? • Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the • Who makes federal laws? • Name one war fought by the United States in federal government. What is one power of the • What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?* the 1800s. federal government? • How many U.S. Senators are there? • Name the U.S. war between the North • Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the and the South. • We elect a U.S. Senator for how many years? states. What is one power of the states? • Name one problem that led to the Civil War. • Who is one of your state’s U.S. Senators • Who is the Governor of your state now? now?* • What was one important thing that Abraham • What is the capital of your state?* Lincoln did?* • The House of Representatives has how many • What are the two major political parties voting members? • What did the Emancipation Proclamation do? in the United States?* • We elect a U.S. Representative for how • What did Susan B. Anthony do? • What is the political party of the President now? many years? • What is the name of the Speaker of the House of • Name your U.S. Representative. Representatives now? C: Recent American History and Other • Who does a U.S. Senator represent? Important Historical Information • Why do some states have more • Name one war fought by the United States in C: Rights and Responsibilities Representatives than other states? the 1900s.* • There are four amendments to the Constitution • We elect a President for how many years? • Who was President during World War I? about who can vote. Describe one of them. • In what month do we vote for President?* • Who was President during the Great • What is one responsibility that is only for Depression and World War II? • What is the name of the President of the United United States citizens?* States now?* • Who did the United States fight • Name one right only for United States citizens. in World War II? • What is the name of the Vice President of the • What are two rights of everyone living in the United States now? • Before he was President, Eisenhower was a United States? general. What war was he in? • If the President can no longer serve, who • What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge becomes President? • During the Cold War, what was the main of Allegiance? concern of the United States? • If both the President and the Vice President can • What is one promise you make when you become a no longer serve, who becomes President? • What movement tried to end racial United States citizen? discrimination? • Who is the Commander in Chief of the military? • How old do citizens have to be to vote for • What did Martin Luther King, Jr. do?* • Who signs bills to become laws? President?* • What major event happened on September 11, • Who vetoes bills? • What are two ways that Americans can participate 2001, in the United States? • What does the President’s Cabinet do? in their democracy? • Name one American Indian tribe in the United • What are two Cabinet-level positions? • When is the last day you can send in federal States. • What does the judicial branch do? income tax forms?* • What is the highest court in the United States? • When must all men register for the Selective Service? • How many justices are on the Supreme Court?Components of the Naturalization Test (continued)

English Test

Oral Reading Writing

Test Test Test

Speaking Reading Vocabulary Writing Vocabulary

An applicant’s ability to speak English will be Each reading test administered to an applicant Each writing test administered to an applicant determined by the USCIS Officer from the contains no more than 3 sentences. Applicants contains no more than 3 sentences. Applicants must applicant’s answers to questions normally asked must read 1 out of 3 sentences correctly to write 1 out of 3 sentences correctly in order to during the eligibility interview on Form N-400, demonstrate an ability to read in English. To help demonstrate an ability to write in English. To help Application for Naturalization. applicants prepare, USCIS provides a reading applicants prepare, USCIS provides a writing vocabulary list containing all the words found in the vocabulary list containing all the words found English reading portion of the test. The content in the English writing portion of the test. The content focuses on civics and history topics. focuses on civics and history topics.